Mind-Body-Spirit: 3 Major Ways Ballet Improves Your Life

Studies abound on integrative health, considering the whole person when making lifestyle changes. The benefits that come from dancing are not exempt from this. Ballet is the foundation of all dance, and it can change your life in more ways than one.

Mind

Whether you’re a loose cannon, or maybe you suffer from depression, ballet has the power to affect positive change in your demeanor. Its technique is difficult and unnatural which requires intense discipline. When you’re kicking and sweating, your bad attitude is forced to the back burner. It’s a way to use whatever frustration you’re experiencing to your benefit. If you’re struggling with the blues or some other stress, intently focusing on developing grace and control relegates your thoughts to the task at hand. This doesn’t mean you have to be in an advanced level to reach some kind of ballet nirvana. Setting goals and working towards them no matter your level can help to improve your mindset.

Body

Ballet is the best workout you can get. It offers cardio and strength training to increase stamina and muscle tone. It always starts off with plies, or slow squats, giving your body the proper warmup. This ensures minimal impact on your joints and allows your body to gently “wake up”. The class continues with highly aerobic exercises designed to boost your circulation and improve your range of motion. With regular practice, you will notice your butt, legs, and thighs become firmer and stronger. The final portion of class lets you dance across the floor, keeping you in motion while burring calories. Good for your heart and good for your core, ballet beats the treadmill any day.

Spirit

Could you use a little more culture? The arts feed the soul, and ballet has features that appeal to a wide range of interests. Its classical music inspires grace and imagination, and this doesn’t mean you have to stick to a steady diet of Tchaikovsky. Modern composers like Philip Glass have produced edgier compositions for world-class ballet companies, and Christopher Wheeldon is basically the rock star of 21st century choreography. Are you a self-proclaimed oddball or wild card? Tap into your creative side and shoot some ballet photography, knit your own legwarmers, or wear a leotard instead of the latest body-con. Ballet is a versatile art form because you can appreciate it for its old-school sensibilities, or you can put your own twist on a classic.

Get your Vitamin B fix (and I don’t mean 12) as a part of a balanced lifestyle, and you will discover a happier, healthier you.